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MA Courses at Columbia University
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Last updated on 2 Apr '26Columbia University M.A.What's new?
International students can take Columbia University MA admission through University application. The Columbia University MA application deadline for international students varies as per programs.
Columbia University M.A. Highlights 2026
The Columbia University offers a 9 months to 5 years of M.A. program to its students. It is a good choice for students interested in studies that are in line with industry demands. Students can choose from around 137 M.A. programs. The M.A. program can be pursued in specializations such as Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE), Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE), Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) and International Relations. The Columbia University M.A. first-year tuition fees for international students is USD 34,096 - 76,716. Apart from tuition costs, students also need to keep a budget in place for expenses related to living in USA. This includes rent, groceries, transportation, etc.
Columbia University M.A. Admission Requirements and Eligibility
As part of the Columbia University admission process, students need to submit scores in some of the internationally accepted exams and certain set of documents. Exams for which you can submit score include
Columbia University M.A.Popular courses
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Columbia University M.A.Columbia University M.A. Tuition Fees 2026
To apply at this university, international students are required to pay the Columbia University tuition fee for M.A. courses. This tuition fee ranges between USD 34,096 - 76,716. The M.A. course specializations like Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE), Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE), Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) and International Relations are some of the popular ones at this university. The factors like transportation, insurance, housing, personal expenses can add to the total Columbia University total cost. Given in the table below is tuition fee for the popular M.A. programs, take a look:
| Fee components | Amount (for 9 months - 18 years) |
|---|---|
INR 22.01 L - 71.35 L | |
INR 16.43 L - 19.91 L | |
INR 4.61 L - 5.73 L | |
INR 95.7 K - 1.23 L | |
INR 1.85 L - 12.47 L | |
INR 45.86 L - 1.11 Cr |
These are estimated fees information. Actual values may differ.
Columbia University MA Application Process
International students must follow the following Columbia University admission process to get into MA programs:
Students can start their application through the Columbia portal. (apply.sps.columbia.edu/apply/)
Check the requirements thoroughly and see if current qualifications are fulfilled.
Students must meet the entry requirements checklist before applying:
- Transcripts of your degree.
- A minimum score of 7.5 and above in IELTS
- SOP
- LOR
- Portfolio
- Resume/ CV
- An Application fee of USD 150
- Exam score (GRE or GMAT, LSAT, MCAT)
Students must make sure their English requirements meet the standards of the university.
Students can submit their application after their requirements are ready.
For MA the application fee is USD 150. Students should pay the application fee to submit.
Columbia vs Stanford University MA vs UC Barkley
If we look at the comparison below among top universities like Columbia, Columbia, and UC Barkley, the world ranking of Columbia is better than the two. However, the tuition range of Columbia University is more expensive than the rest. Students can check out the comparison below among top universities:
|
University |
THE World University Rankings 2026 |
1st-Year MA Tuition Fees |
|---|---|---|
|
#20 |
INR 21 L-INR 69 L |
|
|
Columbia University |
#5 |
INR 26 L-INR 72L |
|
#9 |
INR 24 L-INR 44 L |
Compare M.A. at Columbia University with other similar colleges
| College | 1st Year Tuition Fees | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| INR 22.72 L - 73.65 L | #12 QS, 2026 | |
| INR 31.28 L - 58.1 L | #1 THE, 2026 | |
| INR 6.37 L - 23.64 L | #3 QS, 2026 | |
| INR 17.42 L - 37.15 L | #2 QS, 2026 | |
| INR 21.46 L - 45.46 L | #46 US News, 2026 | |
| INR 14.4 L - 36 L | #169 US News, 2026 |
Compare
Columbia University MA Entry Requirements
International students should fulfill the basic qualification and submit the documents to get Columbia University MA admissions. The entry requirements at Columbia for international MA students are given below:
- Transcripts
- GPA
- GMAT or GRE Score
- Resume
- Essays
- LOR
- Interview
- Application Fee
- Re-applicant Checklist
- Deposits
Columbia University MA Selection Criteria
To increase their chances of being chosen, international students must meet the fundamental selection requirements. Academic profile, application essay, and professional achievements are a few factors of the criteria. To be admitted to Columbia, students must fulfill a minimum of one to two requirements. The following are the fundamental requirements for admission to Columbia University's MA program:
- Students must have a bachelor’s degree from a popular university.
- Students must have an good profile with high scores
- Essays should be original and correct.
- LOR is important
Columbia University MA English Language Proficiency Exams
International students should fulfill the English language requirements by submitting the scores of IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and more. The Columbia University English requirements for international MA students is given below:
|
Test |
Required score |
|---|---|
|
100 - 114 |
|
|
130 & Above |
|
|
7 - 8 |
Columbia University M.A. Rankings
The M.A. course at the university is ranked among various ranking bodies. As per the Shiksha World Ranking, M.A. ranked #7 in 2025. International students can check the Columbia University rankings below:
| Shiksha Popularity Ranking | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Ranking | #9 | #8 | #7 |
| Country Ranking | #8 | #6 | #6 |
Columbia University M.A.Explore Other Courses
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Columbia University MA FAQs 2026
As per a renowned ranking body, Columbia is popular for various courses. American Studies, Art History and Archeology, Classical Studies, Classics, Economics, English, Mathematics, Philosophy, and more are some popular program. Students can check the ranking of popular programs:
Ranked by | 2025 |
|---|---|
ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) - Political Sciences | 4 |
QS - Communication and Media Studies | 9 |
ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) - Sociology | 9 |
THE (Times Higher Education) - Arts and Humanities | 12 |
QS - Politics | 12 |
QS - Sociology | 12 |
QS - Art and Design | 48 |
Yes, Columbia University offers 9 months-1 year MA programme to international students. Some popular programs are International Affair, Film and Media Studies, Political Science, Psychology in Education, and more. The tuition fees is between INR 21L and INR 69L.
Indian students who want to join the MA programme at Columbia University should have a UG degree to fulfill the qualification. A job experience and a GPA of 3.5 can add a positive impression. They should submit LOR, SOP, transcripts, resume, and English language requirements.
Students who have scored high in their UG degree and have some job experience or done some internship in the similar subjects should think of taking admission at Columbia for MA. American Studies, Art History and Archeology, Classical Studies, Classics, Economics, English, Mathematics, Philosophy, and more are some popular program.
Columbia University MA tuition fee is between INR 21L and INR 69L for programs like Classical Studies, Classics, Economics, English, Mathematics, and more. Students can check some popular MA programs at Columbia along with the tuition fees:
Columbia University MA Programs | Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
Philosophy | INR 35L |
Psychology | INR 31L |
International Comparative Education | INR 72L |
Art History | INR 31L |
East Asian Studies | INR 35L |
German Studies | INR 31L |
History | INR 35L |
International Policy | INR 37L |
GMAT scores are one of the factors during admission and are submitted by students to improve their selection chances. There is no ideal score provided by students to get into the Columbia MA. According to the university student profile 2026, an average score of 738 was scored by the applicants who were selected.
Columbia University
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 14 hours ago
Yes, it is possible for Indian students to attend Columbia Uni, free of cost. This depends on the family income and admission type of a student. Columbia Uni promises to meet 100% of the demonstrated financial need of all admitted students, irrespective of citizenship.
UG students from families with
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 15 hours ago
Columbia Uni alumni offers dedicated career support services, mentorships, and pre-departure "send-offs", and career networking. The university partners students with the Columbia Alumni Association of India and the Columbia Global Centers, to guide them during their studies.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 15 hours ago
Yes, Indian food is available at the dining of the Columbia Uni campus. On-campus dining options include the Fac Shack (Faculty House) that serves Indian-inspired dishes (such as chana masala) for lunch.
There are several Indian restaurants nearby that also serve Indian food. This includes Roti Roll,
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, Indian students do face an intense competition for Columbia University admissions and need an exceptionally strong application. Given below are the reasons, take a look -
- A massive number of students from India apply to Columbia each year and most of them appear with a similar profile that fade
M
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
As per the current visa processing trends and US employment regulations for Indian students, the Fall Intake (August/September) is the the safest option for the applicants. Given below are the reasons why students should apply for the Columbia Fall Intake -
- Summer Internship is accessible as the CPT
P
Contributor-Level 10
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